Truro And Penwith College News August 2015

Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards – Could You Be The Face Of Apprenticeships In Cornwall?

Apprenticeships have come a long way. No longer are they seen as just an entry-level option to traditional trades, but are a viable alternative to full-time study giving people of all ages the valuable skills and experience to succeed in a variety of sectors.

The upcoming Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards is set to celebrate this diversity on 9th October. Examples at Truro and Penwith College include Apprenticeships in a diverse range of areas, from Creative and Digital Media, Marketing and Business Administration to Health and Social Care, Jewellery Manufacture and Activity Leadership, and many more besides.

With hundreds of new apprentices starting in the last year, Truro and Penwith College has seen an increase of 60% in the numbers of people starting an Apprenticeship compared with 2013/14. The popularity is spread across sectors, with considerable growth in non-traditional areas such as Management (162%) and Customer Service (128%), as well as in Apprenticeships within the ever-expanding hospitality sector, which has seen a huge 290% increase from 2013/14.

And it’s not just the roles that are diverse. Truro and Penwith College is currently working with businesses of all shapes and sizes including Mamouchi Hairdressers, WISKA, Little Stars Nursery, Uneeka, St Ives Leisure Centre and Truro Fabrics, to name a few.

This rise in Apprenticeships has highlighted that these programmes are not only just a fantastic way of kick-starting your chosen career, but also a useful tool for ongoing professional development.

Aarron Yates, who has boosted his career with a Management Apprenticeship.

Aarron Yates did the latter. As a key member of the highly successful hospitality team at The Eden Project, Aarron, had built up several years of skills and experience. A combination of his appetite for developing new skills and Eden’s progressive and supportive culture led Aarron to undertake an Advanced Apprenticeship in Management with Truro and Penwith College.

“I couldn’t recommend the management training any more, it really is a fantastic course. It doesn’t just change your work ethic but it really changes you as a person, even outside of work. The skills that I learnt from the course have been incredible and gives you a real boost in confidence and morale. It makes you understand just what lengths you have to go to be a professional organisation and to deliver world class service, which we aim to do here at Eden,” said Aarron.

Prior to undertaking the Management Apprenticeship Aarron, now 24, admits he was shy, rarely putting his ideas across and opting to leave decisions to others, lacking the belief and confidence to voice his opinion. Following the training, Aarron understands the value of his input, is confident that his ideas are crucial to his company’s success and now grasps every opportunity to contribute ideas, resulting in a positive impact across all the venues he works in.

Described as a “true inspiration” by her employer, Lydia Webster, aged 22, made an outstanding contribution to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in a vital role within the Income and Costing Team during her time on the AAT Accounting Apprenticeship.

“I chose to follow the Apprenticeship route as it provides an amazing opportunity to gain experience within the workplace whilst achieving a qualification and earning at the same time. I am very proud to be an apprentice in the NHS and would encourage all young people to consider this route.”

Lydia Webster made an outstanding contribution to her employer during her Apprenticeship.

Lydia’s career has since gone from strength to strength, receiving a pay rise and promotion in the process.

The Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards is the perfect opportunity to recognise the achievements and overall contribution of apprentices of all ages, like Aarron and Lydia, who have brought energy, innovation and talent to local businesses.

The Awards, hosted by Truro and Penwith College, will be a celebration of apprentice and business success from across the county at a prestigious black-tie ceremony. The evening, which will be compered by Neil Caddy and former Truro College student Holly Day from Pirate FM, will see businesses, apprentices and their families enjoy a menu designed by The Seafood Restaurant’s Stephane Delourme and created by Professional Cookery students from Truro and Penwith College.

Why don’t you show your appreciation to an apprentice you know, or even show the local business community what you’ve accomplished by nominating yourself for an award?
How to Nominate:

Tickets are now available and can purchased from: truro-penwith.ac.uk/cornwallapprenticeshipawards

The award categories are:

Apprentice of the Year – Hospitality
Apprentice of the Year – Accountancy
Apprentice of the Year – Construction
Apprentice of the Year – Health and Social Care and Child care
Apprentice of the Year – Digital and IT
Apprentice of the Year – Management and Marketing

Apprentice of the Year – Business
Apprentice of the Year – Customer Service and Retail
Apprentice of the Year – Hair and Beauty
Apprentice of the Year – Motor Vehicle
Apprentice of the Year – Engineering
Apprentice – Achiever of the Year
Apprentice of the Year

Apprentice Employer of the Year (SME < 250 employees)
Apprentice Employer of the Year (Large > 250 employees)

Principal David Walrond (right) receiving the Quality Mark from Skills for Health.

Quality In Health Education

Truro and Penwith College is one of only four colleges nationally to have been awarded the Skills for Health Quality Mark, which was presented to Principal David Walrond at a ceremony in London.

Mark Wardle, Director of Curriculum, said: “Achieving the Quality Mark demonstrates that our training meets the high standards expected by health care employers. The Quality Mark endorses the quality of the delivery of training and learning and its suitability for the health sector. This award will provide health employers who are investing in workforce development with a guarantee of the quality of our provision.”

The Skills for Health Quality Mark is the only standard for the UK’s health sector. Assessors found that the College offers a flexible approach to the delivery of programmes which supports their understanding of the particular needs of the health sector and its learners.

TESOL: From Truro To North Korea

Two dentists from Truro are successfully practising in North Korea after learning to teach English as a second language with Truro and Penwith College.

Neil and Jane McDonald are qualified dentists in the UK who applied to work on a specialist project developing dentistry in North Korea. They both completed a full-time intensive Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) programme at Truro College to facilitate their work and assist their local university with teaching English to their students.

Neil and Jane have just finished an introductory few months at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology practising dentistry, alongside helping the English Department lecturers with informal language learning. They have been running ‘English Corner’ a couple of evenings per week which saw around 20 students from the university attend to improve their linguistic skills.

“We’ve found we need to have much more Korean language with which to do our dental work well and, now being the recipients of language lessons ourselves, know what to look for in terms of lexical frameworks. We’ve been complemented on our Korean language skills by some very kind (and forgiving) local people!” said Neil and Jane.

The couple return to Pyongyang in September and hope to teach regular classes at the university with an emphasis on medical terminology, using the skills and methodology developed during their TESOL training.

Truro and Penwith College is the only provider of TESOL courses locally, offering either a seven-week intensive full-time course, or part-time programmes during daytimes or evenings, at Haven House in Truro city centre. The course equips students with the skills and knowledge to teach English as a foreign language anywhere in the world. Former students have taught in China, Vietnam, Ecuador, Russia, Thailand, Spain, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Powerlifting Accountancy Student Wins Big

Truro College student Kerrin Manley has not only been offered a place to train as an accountant, but he also has a future in powerlifting ahead.

Kerrin, aged 20 from Polperro, won in his first ever competition – the Great British Powerlifting Federation South West Divisional. He won his class in the 105 Kilo Powerlifting and was the overall winner regardless of age and weight.

Kerrin, who is awaiting results for A Levels in History and Geography as well as Accounting, squatted 250 kilos, bench-pressed 155 kilos and deadlifted 275 kilos on his way to the win, and has now qualified for the national competition in October.

He said of his win: “I’m surprised, but it’s quite cool. I think I’ll do alright at the nationals, and I’m really aiming to qualify for the European competition, and deadlift 300 kilos on the way.” He also endorsed the Truro College Elite Academy: “I’d recommend Truro College and Elite Academy. It’s been really good, and the staff are supportive. You see the other athletes all around you that are World or European competitors, so it’s obviously quite good!”

Kerrin has been offered a place to train as an accountant with BDO in Bristol from September.

‘IB’ High-Flyer Rosa Is Top Of The Class And Heading To Cambridge

Rosa Dyer from Gorran Haven is celebrating being one of the top students in the county.

Rosa, aged 18 and previously of Roseland School, received the top result in the International Baccalaureate (IB) at Truro and Penwith College this year, achieving 43 points – which is the equivalent of 4 A*s and a B in A Levels.

Rosa is now heading to Emmanuel College, Cambridge to study Human, Social and Political Science, on the way to a possible career in Biological Anthropology.

She said of her success: “It’s very nice, actually quite surreal, and a big relief. The IB is so varied, with so many aspects, that it’s not until the very end results that you realise you’ve done it, so it’s a big thing. I’m really happy to have gotten into the college I picked at Cambridge and am looking forward to it.”

The International Baccalaureate is an alternative to A Levels that allows students to continue studying a broad range of subjects after GCSE, so keeping options open for future universities and career choices.

Of the IB Rosa said: “I didn’t know what I wanted to do after GCSEs. A Levels are good if you want to specify your direction for a particular career, but the broadness of the IB and the additional components tied together make it very good. The focus is on independent studies and on questioning rather than just studying. Universities view the IB highly. At Cambridge you needed 41 points and ‘two 7s at higher’’ in your IB, but at Oxford it’s lower. The IB is valuable. It is a community of students studying together, and at Truro College the support system, is very, very good.”

Rosa took time to thank her tutor and everyone who had given her help and support at the College: “Thanks to Guy Essex, my tutor and the IB Leader, for his help with the application process to Cambridge. He was important, and he made sure it wasn’t overwhelming. He is honest and keeps you grounded.

“I’d recommend the College, definitely. The IB is really well done. It’s got a reputation for being a very good IB course, and it’s a well-earned one. There is very good teaching, staff are very knowledgeable about the IB, highly committed and understanding.”

Could You Get Back Into Education And Equal Amy’s Success?

A Truro College student is celebrating a successful return to education, after achieving distinction grades in all her awarded credits in her Access to HE Diploma in Science.

Amy Hambly-Symons, aged 29 from Falmouth, was working as a dental nurse, and wanted to pursue her enthusiasm for the industry further, and knew she needed more qualifications to get there. After her achievement on the Access course Amy is now progressing to study for a degree in Dental Therapy and Hygiene.

Access to Higher Education courses are a way for mature students to get back into education, and are especially useful for anyone who hasn’t achieved the traditional qualifications they might need to pursue their studies and their careers further, or who are seeking a change of direction. Access courses usually lead on to successfully studying at full degree level.

Amy Hambly-Symons is also no stranger to success, having received the ‘Gold Award’ for achieving the best result in the UK for her National Certificate in Dental Nursing in 2011.

Tutor Jolene Hogan said: “From the outset Amy has impressed with her diligence and commitment. Her enthusiasm is infectious and she is clearly passionate about her career aspirations of working as a dental therapist. She is an exemplary student who has excelled on the Access course.”

As well as the Access course in Science, the Truro College campus also offers Access courses in: Teaching; Nursing and Human Sciences; Humanities, Teaching and Law; Psychology, Counselling and Social Work; Computing and ICT; and Humanities; while the Penwith campus in Penzance provides Health and Social Care and Creative Arts Access courses. The courses usually run from September through to early summer and are taught over 3 days per week.

12 young golfers had the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of some of the game’s great champions at the iconic home of golf, St. Andrews.

The Truro and Penwith College Golf Academy had 12 golfers qualify for the ISGA British Schools and Colleges National Finals, following a successful league campaign. The competition was hosted by the Duke’s course in St. Andrews – the venue chosen to host the 2014 International European Amateur Championship – and the students visited as the British Open was being prepared.

There were 130 strong competitors within the Finals, but there was a number of good performances from the Truro and Penwith College students. Jared Mortimore, from Truro, came in with a fine score of 72, a one over par gross score, but on a low scoring day this left him in thirteenth place, yet only two shots of second place. The College A team were lying in a mid-table position overnight.

Jared followed up his first day score with a 77, to finish in a respectable top twenty place, along with team captain Harry Hall, from Hayle, who shot a three over par 74, which was the best Truro round of the day.

Although most Truro team members improved on their first round scores, it was not quite enough as the Truro and Penwith College A team, consisting of Harry Hall (Captain), Emily Toy, Niall Hutton, Jared Mortimore, Kieran Faulkner and Jamie Crocker, finished in seventh place out of the seventeen colleges participating; this was a very creditable finish considering the opposition in the tournament.

John Presswell, Co-ordinator of the College Golf Academy, said: “Getting twelve golfers qualifying for the ISGA Nationals was a great personal achievement for the players. I am extremely proud of the way the students have conducted themselves on and off the course and they are a credit to their families and Cornwall. Being at St. Andrews for the ISGA National finals in an ‘Open’ year can only be seen as a positive golfing experience for all the students.”

He added: “A special mention must go to Harry as he finishes his final year at College. He has been working with the College’s ‘elite’ strength and conditioning coach, Jamie Willcocks, before he flies off to the University of Las Vegas (UNLV) in Nevada, USA to start a golf scholarship and hopefully a professional playing career. All involved with the Academy wish him well.”

Colleges from all over the United Kingdom qualified for the Finals, with many of the UK’s leading young golfers coming together for the two day event, including players from the Darren Clarke Golf Academy, The Golf College and a number of Lee Westward golf academies.

Pre-school Graduation

There were lots of little graduates around Truro College recently, but it wasn’t your usual graduation ceremony.

It was a time to look forward to the future, as pre-school ‘graduates’ from Truro College Day Nursery celebrated their time there during a ceremony with staff and parents, complete with the obligatory mortarboard!